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$7 gas. What will YOU do?
May 27, 2008
Last Saturday as I filled my tank with $3.70 per gallon gas, all I heard… I mean ALLLLL I heard… from the people outside and inside the gas station were:variations on the theme of rage.
Inside the store: “This a disagrace,” said the man behind me in the line to pay.
Outside the store: “How about those (expletive) gas prices,” said a lady, head stuck out her car window, waiting for me to pull out of her way.
Pure, seething, rage.
Now, I hear we could soon see $7 a gallon gas. I’ve even read a $12 per gallon estimate, but that seems too ridiculous to be true. Can you imagine paying more than $100 for a tank full of gas in your personal car?
So today’s question is this: if gas prices go up to $7 a gallon, what will you do? Are you making plans?
Seriously.
Car-pooling? Downsizing the vehicle? Looking into buying a scooter?
For some, that kind of price increase could make gas consumption a deal breaker. That extra $50 a tank is money that’s just not in the budget.
What about you?
Posted by Josh Smith A Memorial Day discussion… with a 4 year-old
May 26, 2008
Have you ever found yourself in a discussion like the following? Yesterday, it went something like this:
4 year old: “Daddy, why are you putting up that flag?”
Daddy: “It’s Memorial Day… and that’s what we do.”
4 year old: “What’s Memory Day?”
Daddy: “It’s Memorial Day, and that’s the day we remember the men and women who ... well… they’re people who really loved America and did everything they could to protect it.”
4 year old: “Protect it from what?”
Daddy: “Protect it from people who don’t want us to be free”
4 year old: “Why?”
Daddy: “Well… because they want to have lots of power, even if it’s not good for others.”
4 year old: “Why?”
Daddy: “Today is the day we say thank you to the soldiers.”
4 year old: “I’m going to be a soldier when I grow up.”
Daddy: “That would be..... That would be good, son.”
4 year old: “Soldiers get to use big guns, right?”
Daddy: “Yea, but they only use them if they really have to?”
4 year old: “Why?”
Daddy: “Soldiers keep their guns for protecting themselves and others.”
4 year old: “Why?”
Daddy: “Well… sometimes they have to protect us, but you’re safe son… so don’t worry.”
4 year old: “Cause they have big guns.”
Daddy.: (silence.... trying to think of something to say)
4 year old: “Soldiers sometimes get hurt.”
Daddy: “They do. That’s why we need to say thank you.”
4 year old: (looking at the flag) “Thank you soldiers.”
Posted by Josh Smith Tom Wachs… We’ll miss you!
May 23, 2008
Today, Rob and I wanted to use the Morning Edition blog to bid farewell to our co-worker and friend Tom Wachs.
Tom is moving to Kansas City, Kansas where he’ll, no doubt, attract a loyal following of viewers just like he did in the Tri-Cities.
On air, Tom is a perfect professional. He LOVES the weather, and his devotion to his craft is obvious to all.
But I wish you could meet Tom in person. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a nicer guy.
We wish Tom the very best, and here’s your chance to do the same.
Posted by Josh Smith What would you change about your workplace?
May 21, 2008
If you could change anything in your workplace, what would it be?
In a recent survey of employees by Bloomberg Capital Partner, most said their workplace is either too hot or too cold.
Employees also said they want covered parking and cafeteria food.
Others wanted a nap area and free popcorn.
We have free popcorn at WJHL, but there’s no nap area. No one here has time to nap.
Covered parking? Not at WJHL, and I love my very brief walk from the car to the building. Parking garages make me nervous. Not sure why.
Several of my co-workers often remark that it’s too cold in the News Channel 11 building. Studio equipment and lots of computer require the temperature stay a bit below normal. The chill in the air doesn’t bother me or Rob; we’d much rather be a pinch chilly than a tad warm. Also, I grew up in a house with no a.c., so all these years later it still seems like a treat to me.
I’ve had some pretty crummy jobs in the past, so - for fear of sounding like Polly Anna - I have no complaints.
Rob said, “I’d get rid of.... wait… that wouldn’t be legal.” Then he started laughing and ran back to Storm Center to update his maps.
How about you? What would you change about your workplace? We promise not to tell your boss.
Posted by Josh Smith Kenny Chesney: Mad at “The Industry”
May 19, 2008
It’s hard to be at odds with Kenny Chesney. Such a nice guy… and he’s a celebrity with “local” ties. Sure - we never really see the former ETSU student hanging out in his old hometown.... but I digress.
Today’s question: do you agree with Chesney’s response last night after winning the Entertainer of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
Chesney, who’s won the top honor for four years in a row, said he doesn’t like the ACM’s rule change allowing fans to decide the winner through on-line voting.
The country music superstar who once studied at ETSU in Johnson City said his gripe isn’t with the fans but with the industry which he says disrespected the hard work of the artists by turning the Entertainer of the Year contest into a “sweepstakes to see who can push people’s buttons the hardest on the internet.”
When you win, I guess you can criticize the process. When losers do it, it’s sour grapes.
What’s your take on the Chesney criticism? Do you agree that “the industry” should chose country music’s top entertainer award? Or should the industry let the fans make that call?
Posted by Josh Smith 
